Andaman & Nicobar
Seven out of 11 Great Andamanese Tribes recover from COVID19 in Andaman, two still in hospital
Port Blair/UNI: What can be called as a positive development in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, seven out of 11 Great Andamanese Tribes have now recovered from COVID-19, nearly two weeks after being infected with the coronavirus.
“There are only two members of Great Andamanese Tribes at hospital, while two are in home isolation and all others have recovered,” informed Mr Avijit Roy the Nodal Officer of COVID-19 in Andaman.
After the news of COVID-19 infection surfaced following precautionary tests being conducted by Andaman and Nicobar Administration, the Union Territory administration initiated series of tests to safeguard all the five Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), which include Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Onge, Sentinelese and Shompens Tribes.
As Onge and Sentinelese Tribes already live in isolated islands and locations, special measures have been taken to keep the Jarawa, Sentinelese, and Shompen Tribes safe from civil population and any type of infections.
In light of the Covid-19 situation in Andaman & Nicobar Islands and considering the vulnerability of Shompen, who are particularly vulnerable tribe groups (PVGT), the Administration of Nicobar District has now come up with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to safeguard Shompen Tribes.
As per the SOP, the staff of Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samity (AAJVS) shall compulsorily undergo thermal screening every day and any symptoms observed shall be reported to the Assistant Commissioner, Campbell Bay.
Further, such a person showing symptoms should be immediately placed under quarantine and will not interact with Shompen tribe.
As per the SOP AAJVS's staff shall not interact in close quarters with Shompen tribes.
Any distribution of relief materials/ration kit shall be done from a distance at least 12 feet.
AAJVS's staff shall ensure to distribute sanitised relief materials/ration kits to Shompen tribes.
While distributing such materials, AAJVS staff shall compulsorily wear/use mask, gloves, and sanitiser.
The vehicle used for the purpose shall be regularly sanitized properly. All other members of the public are strictly prohibited from giving or taking any materials from the Shompen tribe.
Meanwhile, along with South Andaman Administration the North and Middle Andaman Administration has also imposed restriction of any movement of any vehicle on the Andaman Trunk Road stretch, which passes through Jarawa Reserve Forest.
By a recent order issued today, the District Commissioner of North and Middle Andaman has restricted all non-essential movements from the Jarawa Protection Post Parlobjig No.15 at Kaushalyanagar on Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) towards Kadamtala under Middle Andaman sub-division.
“There will be movement of emergency services and cargo of essential commodities only for there to and return journey. Beyond this, if any person has to move on an emergency basis, he/she have to seek an explicit permission of the undersigned and will undergo a mandatory seven days home quarantine at the destination,” the order says.
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